Postgame ponderings

Before Nashville’s 3-2 win over Detroit, we had a sense that we wouldn’t know a lot about the direction of this series following Game 1. Our inkling was correct. We still have no clue how the series will go. Was Detroit’s dominance in the second and third periods a sign of things to come from the Red Wings? After having eight power plays, did Detroit squander its best chance for a big win this series? If the Predators lose Shea Weber to a suspension — as of tonight, we haven’t heard any news of a potential hearing — how will it affect the series moving forward? These will all be answered after Game 2 when the series has a little more harmony and track record. Right now, what we do know is the Predators are three wins away from advancing into the second round of the postseason. That’s one fewer than they were one day ago.

Here are your ponderings …

When looking at the replay of the Shea Weber head-slam on Henrik Zetterberg, we can, to a degree, understand why some seemed to believe that the hit wasn’t as bad as it looked. Two reasons: 1. Only Weber knows how much force he put into Zetterberg’s head when he pushed it into the glass. He didn’t seem to think it was that much. 2. We’re not sure how much Zetterberg acted on the play. Gamesmanship is a big part of the postseason after all. But boy, it sure did look bad. If both Weber and Hal Gill aren’t in the lineup Friday for Game 2, three of Nashville’s defensemen will be under 6-feet. One will be listed at 200 pounds or more. A position of strength turns into a weakness.

Mike Babcock went the head-games route this morning when he said he liked his third and fourth lines better than Nashville’s. He also called out Paul Gaustad and Nick Spaling by name. He got burned badly. Gaustad scored the Predators’ first goal. Spaling assisted on the game-winner. Overall, Nashville’s bottom two lines were its best. Trash talk is an important part of playoff series. Babcock also is smart enough to know how to get under players’ skins. But his words could have acted more as motivation than doubt for Nashville.

Before the playoffs, we wondered who would be Nashville’s unsung hero — this year’s version of Joel Ward. We probably won’t know at least until after Game 3 or 4, but Gabriel Bourque has shown an ability to rise to the occasion. Last season with Milwaukee he had 36 points in 78 regular season games. In the playoffs, he notched 13 points in 13 games. Is Bourque a big-game type player? Who knows. But he’s off to a pretty decent start with two goals in one game.

Can Pavel Datsyuk really have a bad game? We thought it was impossible — until tonight. The forward and primary Predator killer was held off the scoresheet. He also was a minus-1. Datsyuk had some scoring chances, but just couldn’t bury them. As good as Datsyuk has been in his career, he’s been a little off since his knee surgery. He had eight points in his last 11 regular season games coming off the operation. Zetterberg was Detroit’s top forward tonight. If the Predators hold one of the two off the scoresheet, they’re often in pretty good shape to win. If both start to heat up, Nashville will be in trouble.